Chapter 4: The Path of a Shadow

After the death of the Third Hokage, the village was draped in an air of solemnity. Hiruzen Sarutobi’s passing left a void in Konoha, one that would take time to fill. As the villagers mourned, I continued my own journey, knowing that my mission demanded absolute focus. Though I had played my part in ensuring the invasion ended as it should, the true challenges lay ahead. Days turned into weeks, and I immersed myself in rigorous training, pushing the limits of my strength and skill.

By the time I turned 13.5, my growth had surpassed even my expectations. My power rivaled that of Edo Tensei Madara Uchiha with the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Through relentless effort, I mastered a variety of weapons, including some of the most difficult to wield: the three-sectional staff, kusarigama, and war fans. These tools required not just strength but finesse and intricate understanding. Among these, the kusarigama—a chain-and-sickle weapon—proved to be a personal favorite, its versatility matching my own adaptability in battle.

But my progress didn’t stop there. Thanks to my Wood Release, a gift of my mixed heritage, I had unlocked the ability to master Sage Mode—not just any Sage Mode, but one akin to the legendary Hashirama Senju. While training deep in the forests, I stumbled upon a hidden cave, where ancient scrolls from the Sage of Six Paths lay untouched by time. These scrolls contained insights into the primordial Sage Mode, the origin from which all others were derived. Combining the principles of both Hashirama’s Sage Mode and the Sage of Six Paths’ teachings, I created a new, unparalleled form of Sage Mode. This "Primordial Sage Mode" heightened all my abilities exponentially, increasing my strength, stamina, speed, and chakra reserves fiftyfold. It also granted me the ability to sense life across the entire planet and manipulate senjutsu chakra with unprecedented precision.

In addition to my physical and spiritual growth, my Mangekyō Sharingan’s abilities had become second nature. My left eye allowed me to manipulate space and time, a technique far beyond the capabilities of the Flying Raijin. With it, I could teleport instantly to any marked location, disorient enemies with spatial rifts, and access a personal dimension that only I could enter. My right eye’s power, Hinokagutsuchi, wielded flames of destruction that dwarfed Amaterasu. These flames could be shaped into weapons, barriers, and even intricate constructs—all under my precise control. My personal dimension became not only a sanctuary for training but also a forge where I honed my abilities to perfection.

As my training advanced, an unexpected invitation arrived. Tsunade, the newly appointed Fifth Hokage, and Kakashi Hatake summoned me to join Team 7 as Sasuke’s replacement. They had uncovered my Uchiha heritage, though they believed I possessed only a three-tomoe Sharingan. The revelation was a calculated risk on my part; hiding my lineage completely would have invited further suspicion. Still, they remained unaware of the full extent of my power or the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan I wielded.

I hesitated before accepting their offer. Joining Team 7 would thrust me into the spotlight and risk altering the timeline. Yet, it was an opportunity to observe Naruto’s growth and ensure the story unfolded as it should. After careful consideration, I agreed, knowing the importance of my presence during the critical events to come.

Our first meeting as a team was far from warm. Naruto and Sakura, still mourning Sasuke’s defection, viewed me as an outsider. Naruto, in particular, was vocal about his disdain. “You’re not Sasuke,” he snapped, his blue eyes blazing with frustration. “Don’t think you can replace him.”

I met his glare with calm detachment. “I’m not here to replace anyone. My only goal is to support the team.”

Sakura, though less confrontational, regarded me with skepticism. “We don’t even know who you really are. How can we trust you?”

Their hostility was understandable. To them, I was an interloper, a reminder of the void left by Sasuke’s absence. But I had no intention of earning their approval through words. Actions spoke louder, and I would prove my worth through unwavering dedication to the mission.

Training sessions with Team 7 were both a challenge and an opportunity. Naruto’s determination to surpass me was relentless, pushing him to new heights. Sakura, inspired by Tsunade’s tutelage, began to exhibit the first signs of her potential as a medical ninja. Under Kakashi’s guidance, we grew as a team, though the tension between us lingered.

In private, my training intensified further. Within my dimension, I focused on perfecting the Primordial Sage Mode, testing its limits against simulated opponents. The dimension’s unique properties allowed me to manipulate time, condensing months of training into mere hours in the real world. I also began experimenting with combining my Mangekyō Sharingan abilities, creating devastating techniques that pushed the boundaries of shinobi combat.

As months passed, I gradually earned Naruto and Sakura’s grudging respect. During a high-stakes mission to protect a vulnerable village from rogue shinobi, my strategic acumen and combat prowess proved invaluable. Utilizing my space-time techniques, I neutralized threats before they could reach the village, while Hinokagutsuchi’s flames created barriers that shielded the villagers. Naruto, witnessing my abilities firsthand, began to see me in a new light.

“You’re strong,” he admitted grudgingly after the mission. “But don’t think I’ll stop trying to surpass you.”

I smiled faintly. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, Naruto.”

Though our bond remained tenuous, a mutual respect began to form. For the first time, I felt a sense of belonging within the team, even if it was fragile and hard-won.

As the days counted down to Naruto’s eventual return to the village after his training with Jiraiya, I prepared for the storm that lay ahead. The Akatsuki’s movements were becoming bolder, and Sasuke’s descent into darkness was inevitable. My role in the story was far from over, and the weight of my choices loomed heavier with each passing day.

For now, I walked the path of a shadow, silently shaping the destiny of those around me. My power had grown beyond what anyone could fathom, yet I knew that true strength lay not in overwhelming force but in the wisdom to wield it wisely. The journey was far from over, and the trials yet to come would test not just my abilities but my resolve to stay true to my mission.

In the end, I was an Uchiha. And like the flame that burned within my soul, I would endure, unwavering, until the very end.

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